Page 107 of Always Right

“You live in this fantasyland...thinking this will make it all okay...none of this will help, Derek. None of this will make me feel better and you—"

“That is enough, Hannah,” she flinched at the tone of my voice, taking a step back though I kept my distance from her. “You’re having a shitty time, but you know what? So am I. If you’ve needed space, I’ve given it to you. If you needed me to hold you, I’ve done it. Now I am telling you that this is what I need. I need to get the hell out of here. I need to get you out of here so you can get out of your own head.” Her eyes filled with tears at my words, realization dawning on her...but I was too frustrated to care. “So do this for me, Hannah, hm? Can you do that?”

Her lip trembled but I walked away, leaving her to get herself together while I did the same.

***

I’d spent most of the morning at the restaurant, arranging things so I could be out for a few days.

Lisa had assured that everything would be fine—and I knew that—but the restaurant was the only thing left firmly standing around me.

I couldn’t take the chance of anything changing that.

She’d dug into the situation and confirmed it had been Blake to take from the restaurant. She was heartbroken… but it didn’t seem to matter. Lisa didn’t hold grudges, but I couldn’t say the same for me. The fact that Blake had hurt Hannah so much…I couldn’t forgive it.

“Take all the time you need,” Lisa had said when she realized the severity of the situation. She embraced me in one of those hugs that she reserved for moments like this. “The restaurants will still be here when this is all over, Derek. Take care of your girls.”

“Please keep me updated.”

I felt her laugh against my chest and she pulled away, shaking her head and rolling her eyes.

“I will most definitely not.”

I believed her. I had been lucky enough to find my family...to find Evie, to find Dylan...have them in my life. But Lisa was the sister I had chosen. She stuck around even when I gave her a million reasons to walk away.

And now, with Hannah next to me, as we drove past the Welcome to Pennsylvania sign, I wondered if I had done the same with her. She was so close to a breaking point, so close to giving up that I could feel the uncertainty surrounding us.

She hadn’t said a single word the whole drive, but finally, when she realized we had crossed state lines, Hannah cleared her throat and looked over at me.

“Why are we in Pennsylvania?”

Hannah’s torn expression gave her away. New York was her home. New York was the place where she had started over, where she’d started a new life.

But to me, Pennsylvania was the place where it had all started...the place where I met her, and our story began.

I wanted to remind her of everything we’d overcome...and that we would do it once more.

Even if she doubted it, I would believe enough for the both of us.

“You’ll see,” I finally replied. Her cheeks reddened, but she offered me a small smile before turning her attention back to the road. The air surrounding us lightened and we fell into a comfortable silence for the rest of the trip.

That was until we pulled up to a restaurant we had visited so long ago, at a time when we were completely different people. Her quiet gasp made my heart thud in my chest when I realized how much the place still meant to her. Her eyes sparkled at the lights that shone at the entrance.

Without a word, I pulled the car up to the valet and walked around, taking Hannah’s hand in mine as I helped her step out of the SUV. With my hand on her exposed back, the low cut of the dress allowed me to feel the goosebumps that coated her skin. She brushed a loose strand of her hair back as we stepped inside the building, her hand falling into mine as she searched for comfort. I told the attendant my name and with a nod, the man walked us upstairs, to the balcony that overlooked downtown Philadelphia. It was completely empty other than us and a single table set for two. Hannah smiled once again as I pulled her chair back.

“Well, I’ll be damned.”

Hannah furrowed her brows, glancing from me to the man who had just walked onto the balcony.

“Imagine my surprise when they told me Derek Hensley had called to set up a reservation, for two, mind you. Never thought I’d see the day.” Kevin Myers smiled at me and greeted me with one of those hugs that always included a pat on the back.

He’d opened his restaurant around the same time as me, and now, his place was a staple in Philadelphia. I could see why—the view of the city was just as stunning as I remembered. Almost as stunning as the girl I’d had dinner with so many years ago who'd had stolen my heart.

“Great to see you,” I replied, glancing over at Hannah who had a curious look on her face. I extended my hand, and she took it, standing up next to me.

“Hannah, I’d like you to meet Kevin. We started out our businesses around the same time...had a friendly competition going.” She laughed softly. “And Kevin, I’d like you to meet Hannah, my wife.”

He raised his brows, and pride filled my chest as I had the opportunity to call her my wife once again. I didn’t think that feeling would ever go away.

---